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AYSO Alum Sigi Schmid Earns Lifetime Achievement Award

January 4, 2011

AYSO alum Sigi Schmid is this year's recipient of the Walt
Chyzowych/National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)
Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. Schmid is currently the coach of
Major League Soccer's (MLS) Seattle Sounders and was on the very first
AYSO team 47 years ago in Torrance, Calif.

The award will be presented during a reception at the NSCAA annual convention held Jan. 12-16 in Baltimore, Md.

Schmid began his coaching career in 1980 as the head coach at his alma
mater, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). This led to a
19-year collegiate coaching career - with a winning record of 322-63-33
and three NCAA national championships in 1985, 1990 and 1997.

After coaching up and coming stars including Chris Henderson, Brad
Friedel, Paul Caligiuri, Cobi Jones, Eddie Lewis and Carlos Bocanegra at
UCLA, Schmid moved on to coach the Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS. He led
the Galaxy to championships in the U.S. Open Cup, the Confederation of
North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF)
Champions Cup in 2001 and the 2002 MLS Cup. Schmid also later led MLS'
Columbus Crew to the MLS Cup in 2008 and won the MLS Coach of the Year
award.

Schmid fondly remembers working with the award's namesake, former U.S.
National Coach Walt Chyzowych, before Chyzowych's passing in 1994.

"From the early days of U.S. Soccer West Coast Coaching schools, where I
first met and worked with Walt Chyzowych, I was inspired by his
leadership, love of the game and confidence in American coaches," said
Schmid. "I have endeavored to be a positive role model like Walter. Just
as he gave freely of himself to this great sport, I have strived to do
the same. My hope is that the players and staff with whom I served will
join me in sharing our knowledge, the stories, and the subtle nuances
that help us all see the beauty of this game and what it can become in
America. I am most pleased, humbled and honored by this award."